CHARM Beverly Razon, Public Affairs Director Legislative Update CHARM Beverly Razon, Public Affairs Director

COPIC’s Engagement Strategy COPIC was intimately involved in the passage of the Health Care Availability Act (HCAA) in 1988. The HCAA has afforded physicians a stable environment to practice medicine in Colorado; keeping liability premiums predictable. Over the years, as the HCAA has been challenged at the legislature, COPIC has been the leader in financing campaigns to defend the Act and developing strategies to protect it going forward. COPIC works vigorously at building trusted relationships with candidates, elected officials and regulators. COPIC’s continuous, singular message is the importance of protecting Colorado’s tort reform in order to defend access to safe, quality care. GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS + PUBLIC AFFAIRS RESULTS

Colorado’s Political Environment Executive Branch: Democratic Governor John Hickenlooper General Assembly Senate 18 Republicans 17 Democrats House 31 Republicans 34 Democrats

Governor’s Priorities In May 2013, Governor John Hickenlooper announced the administration’s health policy agenda, The State of Health: Colorado’s Commitment to Become the Healthiest State. The stool has 4 legs: Prevention Access Quality Cost

Legislative Response 2013 Increased the eligibility for Medicaid Established and funded a state run Health Care Exchange Created a statewide coordinated behavioral health crisis response system 2014 Created first commission on affordable health care Increased funding for Medicaid reimbursements and behavior health Made investments in oral health and health technology 2015 Established the Health Care Exchange Oversight Committee Reduced training hours to allow APN prescriptive authority Expanded the types of licensed professionals who may provide mental health care for minors (ages 15 and 18)

Current State of Health Affairs Health policy bills succeeded or failed in nearly equal numbers during a 2015 legislative session largely defined by split party control. The sometimes contentious debates set the stage for a number of issues to return as bills or ballot initiatives in 2016. - Colorado Health Institute, Legislation in Review Report, 2015 Three key themes marked the session: Victories for Value: What Worked Bills designed to increase efficiency in the health care sector by cutting red tape or allowing licensed professionals to expand the scope of their allowed work won bipartisan support. Vacillating Between Costs and Benefits: What Sometimes Worked Bills that both parties agreed had merit but carried big price tags saw mixed outcomes. Differing views on the role of government in health care also fell into this category. Victims of the Culture Wars: What Didn’t Work Most bills that involved partisan politics and culture war issues failed, almost always in a committee hearing. - Colorado Health Institute, Legislation in Review Report, 2015

2015 Laws Impacting You HB15-1029 CONCERNING COVERAGE UNDER A HEALTH BENEFIT PLAN FOR HEALTH CARE SERVICES DELIVERED THROUGH TELEMEDICINE IN ANY AREA OF THE STATE. Colorado Medical Board Telehealth Policy Revisions

2015 Laws Impacting You HB15 -1039 CONCERNING THE DONATION OF PRESCRIPTION MEDICATIONS BY LICENSED HEALTH CARE FACILITIES. HB15-1075 CONCERNING THE AUTHORITY FOR A REGISTERED NATUROPATHIC DOCTOR TO TREAT CHILDREN WHO ARE UNDER TWO YEARS OF AGE. HB15 – 1242 CONCERNING THE RIGHT OF A MEDICAL PATIENT TO DESIGNATE ACAREGIVER TO ASSIST THE PATIENT WITH BASIC TASKS FOLLOWING RELEASE FROM A MEDICAL FACILITY. SB15-71 CONCERNING THE ABILITY OF A PHARMACIST TO SUBSTITUTE ANINTERCHANGEABLE BIOLOGICAL PRODUCT FOR A PRESCRIBED BIOLOGICAL PRODUCT WHEN CERTAIN CONDITIONS ARE SATISFIED.

Questions? Beverly Razon Brazon@COPIC.com